CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-24810NVD status: Analyzed

net-snmp: NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-24810 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in net-snmp, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.9.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating net-snmp to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 68% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update net-snmp to 5.9.2 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Net-snmpnet-snmpbefore 5.9.25.9.2
DebianDebian Linux10.0Not stated
Fedora ProjectFedora36Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.16.5MediumCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD

Official description

net-snmp provides various tools relating to the Simple Network Management Protocol. Prior to version 5.9.2, a user with read-write credentials can use a malformed OID in a SET to the nsVacmAccessTable to cause a NULL pointer dereference. Version 5.9.2 contains a patch. Users should use strong SNMPv3 credentials and avoid sharing the credentials. Those who must use SNMPv1 or SNMPv2c should use a complex community string and enhance the protection by restricting access to a given IP address range.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in net-snmp

All net-snmp vulnerabilities

Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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